Russian Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus
A vigorous perennial herb featuring tall, branching stems covered in fine hairs and long, narrow, bright green linear leaves.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Water
- Moderate watering needs. Allow the soil to dry out somewhat between waterings. Drought tolerant once established.
- Growth
- Herbaceous perennial forming upright, branching clumps reaching heights of 2 to 5 feet with a spread of about 2 to 3 feet.
Care instructions
Provide full sun exposure with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Water moderately when the top few inches of soil become dry, ensuring good drainage to prevent root rot. Plant in poor to average, well-draining soil and fertilize sparingly.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Watering
Moderate watering needs. Allow the soil to dry out somewhat between waterings. Drought tolerant once established.
Soil
Well-draining, sandy or loamy soils with a neutral pH range between 6.5 and 7.5. Avoid excessively rich soils.
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8
Growth habit
Herbaceous perennial forming upright, branching clumps reaching heights of 2 to 5 feet with a spread of about 2 to 3 feet.
Bloom season
Mid to late summer, producing small, inconspicuous greenish-yellow flower heads.
Propagation
Propagated easily through root division in spring, stem cuttings, or by layering.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to root rot if soils remain excessively wet. Generally resilient against most major pests, though occasionally prone to powdery mildew in humid environments.
Similar species
French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa), which features narrower, darker green leaves and cannot be reliably grown from seed, unlike the coarser Russian tarragon.